Saturday, June 23, 2012

Matt Harding may not ever with So You Think You Can Dance, or America's Best Dance Crew. But that doesn't mean that his latest dance video isn't worth checking out. Dancing across 71 nations, with hundreds, if not thousands of other individuals, Matt's video really does speak to how dance is a global language that transcends borders. Read more about his story at http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/

Friday, June 22, 2012

Normally we don't post on ballet here on BBDC. Not because we don't think it's a great dance, but because we as editors and contributors to the site aren't knowledgable enough about ballet to talk about it intelligently, so we let those who do practice that art talk their talk. However, I can say for sure that DS2DIO's latest series, S2DIO city, which started off with a ballet episode defintiely has top notch dancing.

It's an interesting concept. We all know that dance is the universal language, able to transcend local dialects and our limited vocabulary. But what if it were the ONLY language? That is something that S2DIO city tries to explore.

You can check out the episode below, as well as an interview with the dancers here, in addition to a preview for next week's episode featuring ABDC7 Alum and MWC member Ian Eastwood. In addition, you have a chance at being a citizen of S2DIO city - check on the description on the video below to see how.

Hip Hop International announced Jabbawockeez (America's Best Dance Crew Season 1 Champions and stars of Las Vegas show MUS.I.C.) will be presented with HHI’s prestigious Living Legend of Hip Hop Award at the 11th annual World Hip Hop Dance Championship Finals on August 5 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

“Jabbawockeez will become the first dance crew in Hip Hop International’s 11-year history to receive the Living Legend of Hip Hop Award,” said HHI President Howard Schwartz. “The dance crew’s unmatched mystic and captivating performance style launched the group from street credible to world famous through live performances and high profile media attention. In the process, they have inspired many of their fellow street dancers to pursue careers and reach for their dreams in dance.”

Jabbawockeez will be presented the Award in front of an audience of more than 6,000 including 2,500 of the world’s best dance crews, b-boys, poppers, lockers and all stylers from 40 nations at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship Finals. Go to HipHopInternational.com for more info on all the events.

This is MercerMZ here with a full recap of the events in Vegas week for So You Think You Can Dance Season 9. In my last write-up, I said that the week in Vegas is typically a bloodbath for the dancers, and this season was no exception. A total of 181 dancers came into Vegas week with the dream of making that Top 20, and by the end of the week, only 35 dancers still had a shot. So what happened? Who was cut and when? Which choreographers showed to make the dancers work? You're gonna find out right now.Click here for the full write-up with solo highlights and lots of videos and video links.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Our good friends at PacificRimVideoPress recently covered classes being taught by ABDC7's Funkdation Crew at the Quest Learning Center. They have clips of the different classes, as well as interviews. Ana Vargas Flores, William Memo Martinez Charur, Lorena Valenzula Martinez, and Scarlett Nabil Guzman (below) all have videos. Congratulations on your first US workshop guys!

We reported earlier that 787 Crew (America's Best Dance Crew Season 6) did well at their audition for America's Got Talent. Reader Xerpent sent news and videos of two other crews trying to get on AGT: - Members of Blended Projekt (ABDC Season 5) auditioned as Elements Dance Cru. They received generally positive feedback and went to the next round.

- Jag6ed (ABDC Season 6) posted an audition video for AGT, but have not yet been shown on the show.Thanks for the links Xerpent!

We've got winners for our three America's Best Dance Crew Season 7 contests. Each of you should email me at BloggingABDC@gmail.com so I can arrange for the prizes: a Tshirt of your choice (up to $30 value), a $30 iTunes gift certificate or (to the first one of you claiming it) a Size M Fanny Pak tshirt signed by the members of the Season 2 crew. Here are the results:

Superstar Challenge (identifying the superstars who would be featured during the season - David Sean Jason won with 5 correct forecasts - Pitbull, LMFAO, Katy Perry, Rihanna and Britney Spears

Top 4 Contest (being the first to forecast the Top 4 in the order they placed, plus the closest forecast on votes for the Finale): zomgwtfbbqxd got the order right in the week before the finale (as did Wings) and had the closest vote forecast

Elimination Challenge (predicting bottom 2 and eliminations, plus the closest forecast on votes for the Finale) - Sassy wins with a tie for the highest score (with Wings) and the closest vote forecast.

Don't worry -- I'm giving Wings a consolation prize for all his reviews and near misses!

Anthony Lee (Kinjaz) and Ricky Cole (member of ABDC7's Mos Wanted Crew) just released a video of their September 2011 collaboration for Boogiezone Offspring's 300 show. From anflowny Youtube. Thanks for the tip, Greg!

Final results are in for our surveys about your favorite and least favorite performances during the Finale of America's Best Dance Crew Season 7:- IaMmE was by far the favorite with 60% of 953 votes, followed by Elektrolytes/Poreotics (23%). Click here for full results- The 8 Flavahz/We are Heroes performance was the least favorite, with 49% of 739 votes, followed by Elektrolytes victory dance (31%). Click here for complete results.

787 Crew (America's Best Dance Crew Season 6) wants to be the first dance crew to win America's Got Talent. They moved closer to that goal and moved to the next round. Howard Stern called them "one of the best dance crew they've seen on this stage." Watch it here:

If you've been following Youtube trends lately, you'll notice that a new channel, called DS2DIO (pronounced D-studio) has launched. This is a partner channel with Step Up Director Jon M Chu that focuses on dancers. They've got a pretty solid lineup of webseries and content that they'll be rolling out this week, and the first episode of the show "Remixed" features ABDC Alum Mike Song collaborating with acapella artist Mike Tompkins to create a unique performance where the dancer doesn't back up the artist, but the two are equals in producing the piece.

Also, producer Harry Shum Jr (LXD) announced in a livestream after the premiere that seasons 1-3 of the LXD will be reaired on this channel. He has also issued a challenge to anyone interested to create their own dance using "the arm puppet," so check it out here.

In case you didn't know, RedBullBC One is one of the biggest bboy competitions in the world. This year, the finals are held in Brazil. But how does one get to that level? There are qualifying battles in various cities around the world. In the US, that qualifier will be held in San Diego. However, even then there are way too many top level bboys for that qualifier to seed them all. so, there are cyphers in different cities around the US. Recently, Bboy Bebo (from ABDC Phunk Phenomenon) participated and won the whole cypher, and will be representing his city at Chicago. Congratulations Bebo!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Previously, in America’s Best Dance Crew and Least Favorite Format Change, 8 Flavahz was voted safe, leaving MWC and Elektrolytes to fight for the remaining spot with a goofy dance battle instead of a Last Chance Challenge, also rendering the David Guetta performances nearly useless. Considering this dance battle wasn’t much better than the season’s first dance battle between the first two eliminated crews, Mix’d Elements and Funkdation, it really speaks to how tight of a contest this season really was. MWC was given a Mos Extreme Elimination, and joins the talented crop of ABDC’s previous third-place finishers. It’s Katy Perry Week! The show is now down to, as the show kind of puts it, a bunch of Hawaiian girls fresh out of the womb and constant rejects from a boring city. Who will get the title?Click here to read the full review.

Chris Trondsen talked to Victor Kim (Quest Crew) after the finale of America's Best Dance Crew Season 7. They talk about what it's like to be back at ABDC (like going backwards in time), what it was like going through the finale for Season 3 (including prepping himself to lose to Beat Freaks), what it was like to work with 8 Flavahz for the LMFAO Challenge, the unexpected twists for the season, his webseries with Wong Fu awaywehappened,com, his upcoming art show and music releases and dance performances. And he did a speed round: who's the funniest person on YTF, the song he sings in the shower, and which he's rather listen to: Justin Bieber vs. Miley Cyrus vs. Selena Gomez.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Victor Kim (Quest Crew) and Chris Trondsen interview Poreotics (with a pop-in from Benjamin Barnett of Elektrolytes) after the finale of America's Best Dance Crew Season 7. They talk about working with together to perfect their group performance, the ABDC family, initiation rites for Elektrolytes as the new champions, and send a message to Elektrolytes.

Here's a new music video with Hot new artist Kristina Maria featuring dancing Thien-Linh 'TL' Truong from Blueprint Cru and the girls of Irratik. The video is choreographed by Steve Bolton and Lorena Liebman from Blueprint Cru. JC Chasez is featured in the song but he's not in the video. From kristinamariamusic Youtube.

Danny Batimana (manager for ABDC5 winning crew Poreotics) created the nonprofit "Happiness is Now,” focused on improving arts in schools and stopping bullying. He wants to raise $10,000 for a California school tour this fall. Click here for more information and to make a donation. And thanks to WOD reporter Calvin for helping draw attention to this worthy cause!